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What is your Dog's name & breed?
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Alec Rowell
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Jan 29, 2013 01:23PM
The current canine who cohabits with us is Golly St. Nicholas Chompsky. Nick is probably a collie/golden retriever cross--that was the guess of the pound where we got him and his behavior & looks corroborate this. He looks like a golden-haired, golden-eyed 80# wolf with tulip ears.
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If this is your boy in your avatar...oh my!! Stunning!
Alec wrote: "The current canine who cohabits with us is Golly St. Nicholas Chompsky. Nick is probably a collie/golden retriever cross--that was the guess of the pound where we got him and his behavior & looks c..."Nope, that's a rescue wolf (as in a "wolf" wolf) that I snapped a shot of at Wolf Haven near Olympia WA (http://www.wolfhaven.org/). They do excellent work there. Beautiful guy, isn't he? My Nick is actually just as nice looking, but maybe a little less intimidating.
Well, it's a beautiful shot of a very stunning wolf. I was thinking, 'man your dog has more wolf than dog in him!' Sometimes difficult to know. Especially in very small photo. From how you describe, your Nick sounds gorgeous! I will check out the wolf site.
I've a 2 year old Alaskan Malamute called Niko. We got him a few days before Christmas in 2010. He's definately spoilt - we joke that we're just his housekeeping staff. Much as I love him, he can be a little bit Jekyll & Hyde sometimes! LOL
The only true Malamute I've ever met was in Washington state & he was HUGE like a horse :)
We've only ever had mutts, and all females. We had John, Jack and Grunty-Bear. My BF wants to get a purebred if we get one.
I have two canadian fox red Labradors aged 12 they were brought together as litter mates named Charlie & Jasper.And my beloved baby boy an 80kg 2.5 yr old Leonberger called Mouse
I Love your furry kids, Helene! And your beloved Mouse is my 'wish' dog! I wish I had a Leo!!
I got a yorkshire terrier named chewy.
I have a mix, but I'm not sure of what :D Sometimes I think it was a mix of a cat and a dog :D I can see fox terrier in it, but have absolutely no idea what other dog it is mixed with.She came into my life about 7 years ago and her previous owners don't know what mix she is either :-s
Anyway, she is the cutest dog ever, my personal bodyguard :) Her name is Lady!
Hi, Tacha! Lady is lovely and looks like the sweetest best friend.Gayle & Lucy ( Therapy K9)
Volunteer St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program
Volunteer, Member Tiny Paws Dog Rescue Canada
My dog is a great pyr named Max! Big , white , fluffy , and lovable!!!
Hi Esther and Max! I agree that those big, white fluffies are stunning!
I have a 7 year old German Shorthaired Pointer, Deuce. I think he is a reincarnation of my poodle Rusty who we had to put down 8 years ago. Totally different breeds bur their personalities are so similar. He is liver and white like his Dad King. Such a great breed and Deuce is such a good dog!
I have 2 dogs. A 10 year old yellow lab/husky mix that we adopted from the Humans Society and a 1 year old minature golden doodle. They are great buddies and we just love them both so much!!
Esther wrote: "My dog is a great pyr named Max! Big , white , fluffy , and lovable!!!"Me too! Arent they amazing?
I have a great Pyrenees named skyla! Such good sweet giants :)
I have a super sweet 10 1/2 year old yellow lab (Dusty) and another super sweet 5 year old "brown dog" rescue (Marley). They love each other so much and when my older dog passes on, I can't imagine how Marley will survive... I also foster rescue dogs from the humane society...from puppies to nearly un-adoptable adult dogs. Its not an easy task and saying goodbye to these animals brings tears every time.
Pembroke welsh corgis - Rudy, Flutter, Eve, and her daughters Sera, Nola, Nicole, and her son Poe
Kristy, thank goodness for people like you! You selflessly help our best friends in need and I'm so grateful. I volunteer for a rescue in Canada but because I have four of my own dogs I cannot be a foster mum. I help with transports and reference checks. What you do must be so rewarding but so painful also. Carol, I love Pembroke Welsh Corgis! They are adorable and their body shapes are much like my own beloved dachshunds!
i have a Pomeranian his name is coco and he is brown
I have a German Shepherd (Pepsi) and a rescued Bangkok street dog (Soda) who is Thai Ridgeback/German Shepherd mix.I live in Thailand and take care of many other stray dogs every day. If I had the space and the money I would bring them all home.
I live in Thailand where I rescue and train dogs, volunteer in an elephant sanctuary and write books. I have a German Shepherd (Pepsi) and a rescued street dog (Soda)who is Thai Ridgeback/German Shepherd mix.
I also feed and keep an eye on a large number of stray dogs in the countryside. I have posted pics of my two and some of their friends on the Group photo-board.
Stewart, where in Thailand do you live? I am familiar with Thailand, due to my military service. I am curious about the concept of rescuing dogs in Thailand. You must stay very busy. Saw more than one truck loaded with cages stuffed with dogs headed for slaughter.
Hi JeffI am in the Huai Yai countryside, near Pattaya and about 2 hours south of Bangkok. The dogs I help are lucky in a way, as they are out of town, away from busy roads,but that makes it harder for them to get enough food. I feed six on a daily basis and check their health etc. I have friends who do the same for the other stray dogs on the beaches & in town. There are not enough good homes for all the strays and feral dogs, and most are too wild and like to being free. I get them socialised and used to humans, to increase their chances of getting food. When someone is wanting a puppy, if they are responsible and caring, I always know litters of nice puppies and can match up puppies with owners. I work with other dog carers, both Thai and westerners. The biggest stray dog organisation here the "SOI DOG FOUNDATION" founded by a British couple on Phuket: http://www.soidog.org/en/about-soi-dog/
We all campaign against the dog meat trade,
and The Soi Dog Foundation have a specific fund for that, here is the link: http://www.soidog.org/en/dogmeat/
Most Thais like dogs and would not eat dog; and shipping dogs to be slaughtered is illegal in Thailand, but so are many activities which are openly pursued here. Many Thai dog owners have little idea about right way to care for their dogs. With so many stray and feral dogs. or even pet dogs running around, it is easy for unscrupulous dog meat traders to catch them and ship them out to Cambodia and Vietnam as food. As you have seen, they are transported live, and are killed as close as possible to place where they will be sold as meat.Much of this is augmented by a stupid East Asian folk belief that eating male dog confers virility. Nearly all dog meat eaters are male and regard themselves as "tough-guys". I see them as inadequate losers.
Wow. Stewart, I a glad to meet you, such as this is, online and all. I do allot with dog rescues and dog transports and the like. I am going to share these links, for you organization, with a bunch of other dogfolk.
Many Americans do not really know how to care for their dogs either. That has improved dramatically in the past several decades. In 2012 U.S. pet owners spent $53.3 billion. Spoiled pets is a somewhat new phenomenon, and that is not good either. But there is still allot of pet abuse and neglect - dogs chained in yards and never touched, dog fighting, etc.
There is a burgeoning dog meat industry here in the U.S. Up to now it has been illegal and done as a black market. That is what happens to many missing and taken dogs. They wind up on an Asiatic plate.
The "tough guy" persona is the cause for a lot of barbarity in the world. It is necessary, for military, law enforcement and even athletics, but does not necessarily have to lead to abuse. But too often it does.
I have good memories of Pattaya, and Phuket, and Chiang Mai.
So, Stewart, are there any more prevalent dog breeds over there? I just recall lots of mixes.
Keep up the good work.
Hi Jeff,Thanks for passing on the links.
Spoiled & misunderstood dogs, which are "abused" by the wrong sort of care and unrealistic expectations is the subject of an excellent book by Jon Katz, here is the link. I reviewed it recently on Goodreads.The New Work of Dogs: Tending to Life, Love, and Family. Katz mentions in one of his books that only between 3-5% of American dog owners ever train their dogs. In Thailand it must be well under 1%. I hate to see dogs neglected and bored and lacking in companionship.
The two most famous Thai Dog breeds are Thai Ridgebacks and Baan Keow Dogs ( Spitz Type). I discuss the former and tell a story about one in my recent book, along with many other true dog & animal stories of my life. Many are set here in Thailand.
Of Mice and Zen. Animal Encounters in the Life of a Wandering Buddhist. There are free samples in my Goodreads Author page and more in My Writings.
I include chapter on the elephants I worked with. I first came to Thailand to work with elephants in an rescue sanctuary.That was 10 years ago.
Probably the most popular breeds in Thailand are the Golden Retriever and miniature poodle, both tend to be owned by the middle class types. A few German Shepherds, usually employed as guard dogs, which does not do them justice.
Sorry to butt in on your convo, guys, but y'all sound pawesome! I work at a K9 boarding/training facility in Hawaii & can tell you right now these dogs are pretty spoiled rotten here in paradise, although we still have our fair share of locals loving the tough guy persona with their pitbulls for fighting & protection & guarding their meth/marijuana stashes.We have quite a few Rhodesians here but I have never heard of the Thai Ridgebacks...are they smaller in size?
I have read a lot of Katz's books & definitely want to check out the "Animals & zen, Wandering Buddhist" one mentioned.
Mahalo for all y'all do for our furry brethren!
So how is shelter capacity in Paradise, uh, Book? Which island are you on. The Big? By capacity, I mean are animal shelters and kennels filled or half or what? The answer for that is an indicator of stray and abandoned pet situation in a city or area.
Hi BookGood work in Hawaii.
On Thai Ridgebacks...
Below I have pasted a story about one from: OF MICE & ZEN. I am currently writing a story about a pair of them which belonged to an uncle if my wife up in Norhern Thailand. They are smaller than a Rhodesian Ridgeback, but just as brave.I shall post a photo of one in the Dogs photo gallery very soon, (after I have taken my dogs out).There are a few breeders of them in Mainland USA. They are high energy dogs and definitely need good exercise,training and a purpose.
I think they are great dogs.
Nin the Devoted Thai Ridgeback Provides for Her Family
This story is my wife’s rather than mine, but I think it deserves inclusion as a tribute to a clever and resourceful Thai Ridgeback bitch that was part of my wife’s family when she was a girl. I have translated exactly what she told me about her family’s life in rural Buriram in North East Thailand, and their devoted dog. I have also added some background, and a few conjectures of my own.
Thai Ridgebacks are large or medium size dogs, native only to Thailand. They have short coats usually grey or brown, sometimes black or brindled, with a distinct ridge of hair growing in the opposite direction along the back, large ears and an alert looking head on broad shoulders. Male ridgebacks are very powerful dogs, looking like a Doberman or Weimaraner, except with fully erect GSD type ears, and they are noted for their intelligence, hunting and guarding skills, and their willingness to have a scrap. Females are smaller and lighter, and generally easier to train and handle. I particularly like the grey coloured ones, which seems to add to the muscular look. The grey shade is slightly darker than that of most Weimaraners, the handsome grey-coated German gundogs. Thai Ridgebacks were only introduced into the USA in 1994 by a few specialist breeders, but are attracting a following among owners who like, active, strong minded, unusual dogs.
When my wife Phai was a girl up country in Buriram, her parents were very poor and often had no money for food. Like all poor rural Thais, they ate whatever they could hunt or scavenge for free. So, lizards, birds, rats, snails and many kinds of insects such as grasshoppers, beetle grubs, black scorpions and silkworm grubs were part of their diet. Phai was the best human scavenger in the family, as she was quick and observant, though thankfully she no longer brings down birds and lizards with a catapult, and I am weaning her off the grubs and snails. Her Thai ridgeback bitch Nin, was even more proficient, and would catch rats and lizards and bring them to Phai, as well as lead her to the best ant nests, so that Phai could gather the eggs and grubs. She would even help Phai dig out the nest, which is not a thing a dog would do naturally, as it is going to get plagued by ants. The favourite for raiding, were the large red ant nests. Thai Red Forest ants have a painful bite and plenty of stinging formic acid. All her hunting and scavenging skills were instinctive, and she had never been formally trained. Like Mimi, the clever Formosan Mountain dog, her “training” was acquired through close observation of her humans, continuous contact with them and through trial and error.
Phai was also the best cook in the family, and usually took on that role, but as I have indicated, there was often very little to cook. She would often start to boil some rice and try to figure out how to feed eight people with that and three eggs. At this point Nin would frequently disappear and minutes later, reappear with a chicken. The interesting thing was, it was never one of the family’s scrawny chickens, but a large, plump chicken, apparently stolen from one of the wealthier neighbours, who had many. The chicken was always already dead when Nin brought it to Phai, so it was pointless to let it go to waste, they couldn’t be sure where it came from, and Nin wasn’t telling, so it was plucked and quartered.
Nin’s skills as thief, providing for her family didn’t end there. She would disappear again and turn up minutes later with a plastic bag of cooking oil, presumably stolen from the village store. In those days, cooking oil was distributed in big drums to the village stores, and then decanted into small plastic bags. I have a suspicion that the oil was not so much stolen, as given to the dog by the kind lady who ran the store. Phai was a young girl, still only between eight and thirteen. She would have never dared ask for handouts, or admit to people in the village who were not family, just how poor they were; even though it would have been obvious to everyone in the village. If my guess is correct then Nin was a useful silent intermediary to save face all round. We can’t even be sure that she actually stole the chickens; perhaps they were donated, with their necks already rung, by a kindly neighbour. Again, considerations of “face”, respect and social standing in the village, meant that no one would ever ask or tell. In either scenario, the dog was certainly clever and resourceful in loyally providing for her family, either by convincing begging or by stealth and theft.
Copyright © Stewart McFarlane 2012 Page 55
Chapter 14: Nin the Devoted Thai Ridgeback Provides for her Family.
ps There is also a chapter on the Humpback Whales off Hawaii, in the same book.
I have posted the Thai Ridgeback picture in the DOGS photo section. Photos of Pepsi, my Thai GSD & the rest of the pack are also on there.
Very cool, Stewart! I especially like the concept of Nin helping to save face as that is very Asian, as I am :)I don't have access to the photo gallery on my phone, for some reason, so will check out the pix when i can get wi-fi on my laptop. Want to read your book even more too!
Jeff, the Big Island always has animals in their shelters, unfortunately. I stay away cuz it bums me out & I'd be tempted to take home each & every one! The Humane Society works closely in conjunction with our PetCo in adoptions, drives & other events/fundraisers.
Sad to say, there are a lot of Marshalese & Micronesians etc. that will go to the pound to buy pups or steal strays to breed for consumption or fighting. I'm Asian but am Americanized enough to be appalled by it all!
Golden retriever named Daisy, who is 1-3/4 years old. She's the co-star of my new book: Golden Angels: A Pet Loss Memoir.
A dobie-shep mix? That sounds interesting. Got any pics?
My dog is a 700 year old Irish Wolfhound, one of the last of the ancient breed. He's Gelert, the legendary wolfhound to be precise, and he stands over a metre at the shoulder and will rip your head off if you look at Llewelyn wrong! My ACTUAL dog is Joey, who's a Jack Russel/fox terrier cross. Not quite as dramatic!
Good choice David. Gelert is a hero of mine too.I am sure Joey the terrier is just as loyal as Gelert, in his own way, and he doesn't have to kill a wolf to save your child and then be killed by mistake, to prove it. Good post. Any pictures of Joey or Gelert you can post in the Photo section?
700 years? Wow. I dont want to see you vet bills.
Um... No dog lives for 700 years. I think you meant 7. Most breeds live up to age 19, maybe 20 and that's it.
I have 3 Italian Greyhounds: Spider is 13, Mini is 10 and Smoocho is 8. Smooch is their offspring from the one litter we bred. I also have a rescued toy terrier that we call Teetee, she has been with us for two years now.
Bichon/Shih Tzu mix Teddy - have also had German Shepherds, Dachshunds and Duke, a mix of unknown origins - maybe golden retriever,border collie, australian shepherd?
I have two shih-Tzu's, Alexis and Jay Leno. They have been together since Leno was 11 weeks old. They are now five years old. Together they had a litter of 5 puppies in 2011. What an experience! I never thought I would be able to help anything give birth but it was sure worth it. Alexis and Leno are polar opposites. Alexis is the alpha. She loves to meet new people, is always ready for something new, and would play all day if she could. Leno prefers to be quiet and snuggle. He has his own 'man cave' that he spends most of his time in. I love talking about them both.
All fine creatures. We've always had rescue dogs of mixed (and very mixed breeds.) They have all been hearty, wonderful companions, but the dog of outstanding quality was Amy: her father the Duke of Hubbardton had been an award winning Chesapeake and her mother a Rottweiller.Smart, loving and statuesque. I speak of her as if she is our dog because she is-- we all feel her presence in our home--maybe it's just our longing, but maybe in addition to having been an outstanding dog in life, she remains so even after!
I have a lab Doberman mix named Oreo and a Papillion named Mischief!
I have a black lab, rotweiler, golden retriever mix that is 3 named Buddy. I also have a black lab, german sheperd(we think) mix that is 9 months named Koda Bear.
I have a Spanish Podenco named Eddie. I found him playing with the traffic on my way home. He features in my up-coming book, 'Scrumping for Lemons'.
We don't have a dog at present, but I am always interested in the origin of breeds. This science study on the Greenland sled dog caught my eye.https://phys.org/news/2025-07-sled-do...
"The Greenland sled dog, or Qimmeq (plural Qimmit), is one of the few breeds that can still be found pulling a sled. They have been much more isolated genetically than other traditional sled dogs and are now facing a decline in population, due to reduced Arctic ice, urbanization, competition from snowmobiles and general changes in the lifestyle of Arctic people. Their numbers have been halved since 2002, going from a population of around 25,000 to about 13,000 in 2020.
This dramatic decline, along with the fact that the Qimmit have been working alongside humans for so long, prompted researchers at the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes for Health to take a deep dive into their origins and genetic diversity to shed light on their history and the history of the people around them.
The researchers sequenced 92 Qimmeq genomes from the past 800 years and compared them with 1,998 genomes from ancient and modern dogs and wolves. The genomes were separated into three groups from different periods: pre-European contact from when the Inuit arrived in Greenland until the Danish-Norwegian colonization (between 1721 and 1884), post-European contact (from 1885 to 1998) and present-day (after 1998). These separations helped to determine the impact and extent of European contact in Greenland.
The results of the study, recently published in Science, showed two distinct migrations into Greenland. Genetic markers found in the Qimmit place their arrival in Greenland around 1000 years ago—earlier than previously thought. A close relationship between the Qimmit and an Alaskan breed, dating back to around 3,700 years ago, suggests that the Inuit left this region and migrated across the Arctic Circle relatively rapidly."
More information: T. R. Feuerborn et al, Origins and diversity of Greenland's Qimmit revealed with genomes of ancient and modern sled dogs, Science (2025).
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/s...
Journal information: Science
Schnoodle, his name is Gandalf, but we call him Gan
